Christopher J. Pappas Joins Amegy Bank Board of Directors.

HOUSTON -- Amegy Bank N.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Bancorporation of Texas, Inc. (Nasdaq:ABNK), has announced that Christopher J. Pappas, CEO of Pappas Restaurants, Inc. and President and CEO of Luby's, Inc., has been elected to its board of directors.

Pappas has 30 years of operational management experience and is actively involved in the operations of all 70 Pappas restaurants, the majority of which are located in Texas. In March 2001, Pappas was named President and CEO of Luby's, Inc. and joined its board of directors.

"Chris is a true business leader who has built one of the most admired franchises in the region," said Paul B. Murphy, Jr., CEO of Amegy Bank. "His commitment to the community, management experience and business acumen are a compelling addition to what I think is one of the strongest Board of Directors in the banking industry."

The privately-owned Pappas family of restaurants is based in Houston, Texas and has grown to include many popular concepts, including Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Pappasito's Cantina, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Pappas Seafood House and Pappas B-B-Q.

Luby's provides its customers with delicious, home-style food, value pricing, and outstanding customer service at its 133 restaurants in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, the Rio Grande Valley, and other locations throughout Texas and other states. Luby's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:LUB).

"As someone who has managed a business in Texas for most of my life, I understand the importance of having strong, independent banks serving Texas companies and individual consumers," said Pappas. "For the last 15 years, Amegy Bank has been a true resource for the communities in which it operates. I am honored to play a role in that process."

Pappas serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Houston Partnership, the Sam Houston Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and on the University of Houston's Conrad Hilton School of Hotel & Restaurant Management Dean's Advisory Board. He was awarded the Hilton School's "1994 Honorary Alumnus Award" and "1996 Volunteer of the Year Award." Chris is a Director of the National Restaurant Association and of the Texas Restaurant Association and is a member of the Greater Houston Restaurant Association. In 2001, he was inducted into the Texas Restaurant Association Hall of Honor. Pappas received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.

"We recognize the importance of having a Board with a strong representation of so many vital areas," said Scott J. McLean, president of Amegy Bank. "From community development, small business, energy, real estate, and investments, to name a few, the insights business leaders like Chris Pappas bring to our company are a real strength."

About Southwest Bancorporation of Texas, Inc.

Southwest Bancorporation of Texas, Inc., the parent company of Amegy Bank N.A., is the largest independent bank holding company headquartered in Houston, Texas. The Bank focuses on commercial lending, treasury management, and investment services for businesses, private financial management, and trust services for families and individuals, and retail and mortgage banking services. The Company has $7.51 billion in assets, deposits of $5.6 billion and more than 75 full-service banking centers located throughout the Houston and Dallas metropolitan areas.